Winter's Shadow

Chapter 27

Still the One

Draco stood up and ran out of the Great Hall after Hermione. Professor Snape stepped out of the shadows as he ran out the double doors toward the staircase.

"Mister Malfoy what ever did you do to cause the girl to run off crying?"

Draco felt a boiling rage fill him at the sound of his Head of House. Determined not to repeat the yelling match when Hermione was taken, Draco took three deep breaths flexing his hands into a fist and then out again. He turned.

"Professor I am not the cause of Hermione's tears."

Professor Snape raised a quizzical eyebrow at the young Slytherin.

"Indeed?"

"Indeed. Do us all a favor, Professor. Do not kiss Hermione again. You are incapable of fulfilling the promise of that kiss."

Draco did not wait for a response from his Professor. He simply walked off toward the Heads' common room hoping to find Hermione. Professor Snape watched him go without a word.

Draco stepped into the Heads' common room and spotted Hermione immediately. She sat on the sofa staring into the fire, deep in thought. Draco crossed the room slowly and sat down beside her. He waited. She remained, not acknowledging his presence. With a deep sigh, Draco decided it was time for Hermione to talk.

"Hermione it stops now."

Hermione turned to look at Draco as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"Do not give me that look, Hermione. I did not expect you to return the same as you left."

She was curious whether Draco had talked to Ginny or if he was genuine in his understanding part of what was on her mind.

"What do you mean?"

"Hermione it's as if this line has been drawn between Dumbledore's supporters and Voldemort's. Anyone who crosses that line for whatever purpose will never be the same. I'm not."

Hermione nodded her head, letting Draco know he was correct. Draco looked at her and noticed a peculiar thoughtful look.

"What else is it Hermione?"

She looked up trying to smile through her tears.

"Draco, he wanted me, Hermione Granger, Muggle-born. He offered to 'purify' my blood and then he forced the Dark Mark on me."

Draco understood perfectly what Voldemort was all about and this part of the story he did not know was contradictory to the usual Voldemort.

"Why?"

There had to be a reason. Something caused Voldemort to want to keep a Muggle-born girl and try to force her to his side.

"I learned quite a bit about myself while I was there." She wiped a tear away.

"Hermione you are not answering my question."

"Yes, I am. What I learned is why he wants me. Watch."

Hermione held out both hands, palm up and raised them. A rolling thunder sounded through out the room. The sound did not seem to be outside the room, but within it. It grew louder. Draco looked up at her raised hands and then he saw it. Just as in the room with Voldemort, in one hand a dancing flame appeared and in the other a ball of ice.

Draco looked down from Hermione's hands to her. She lowered her palms so that she held the fire and ice between them. Her face glowed from the light dancing on her face from the fire she held. Draco looked down, running his hand through his hair.

"Merlin! They were wrong all this time."

Draco was muttering more to himself than Hermione, but she still heard him. She nodded her head. Draco was shaking his head in disbelief.

"All this time!" His head snapped up to look at Hermione. "It was never Harry's heart nor was it something in the Department of Mysteries that Harry possesses."

Hermione remained silent and only shook her head no as if agreeing that it was all wrong. Draco continued.

"But he will have power The Dark Lord knows not.' Bloody hell! All this time...the power of a Muggle-born witch and now he knows."

Nothing more was said.

~*~*~

Hermione stood on the ledge of the balcony at Pallidus Manor. She wore flowing white robes that fluttered in the wind. Her face pointed up to the moon, her eyes closed, her arms up and open as if embracing the night. The moonlight from the full moon overhead seemed to set her aglow. It looked as if every part of her radiated this light.

Something stepped out of the shadows on the corner of the ledge. The animal took a few more stealth-type steps toward her and stopped. Its chest heaved up and down as it breathed. Anger flashed in its eyes. Its teeth gleamed in the moonlight. Snape froze as he realized who it was. Remus must have been there talking to Hermione and he must not have taken his Wolfsbane potion. The werewolf watched Hermione hungrily.

The werewolf took another step to Hermione. This time he let out a loud roaring growl alerting Hermione to his presence. She lowered her arms and looked down at the werewolf.

"Professor Lupin?"

Hermione reached her hand out to touch the werewolf. Severus knew he had to act fast.

"Hermione, no!"

Severus rushed forward to snatch her off the low wall and away from the monster Lupin had become. Startled, Hermione turned to look at Severus. As she did so, Severus reached out to grab her, only grazing her arm as she teetered off the wall and began to fall...

Severus sat straight up in bed. He was growing tired of these dreams. Running a hand through his bed tousled hair, he took a deep breath to calm down. He found that when he tried to close his eyes again, images of Hermione floated across his mind. He could understand why Hermione was so upset after their first kiss when Snape just didn't talk to her and avoided her at all costs. He understood because it was as if Hermione was now doing that herself after their last one. It was not what Severus had expected. His plan had been to accept his feelings and to actually share them with her. Somehow, this never happened.

Draco's words echoed in Severus' mind. At first, what Draco said did not make much sense. The more he thought about it the more sense it made. Each kiss was a promise to Hermione. The first kiss was a promise of what they could have together and for all purposes would have together. The clincher was that Snape broke that promise when he left the next morning and avoided her from then on. By the second kiss she had grown tired of her immature little games to get him to accept what she already knew. The promise in this kiss was not taken to heart as the other, but only glanced at and then taken as a lie. Severus knew in order for Hermione to accept it as truth he would have to do something drastic and very much unlike him. He knew exactly what to do and only hoped he would actually go through with it.

~*~*~

Severus sat at the high table watching the students enter. He had not told anyone of his plans for that evening. He planned on waiting awhile. About half way through the ball he would ask Hermione to dance. He would tell her how he felt while they danced and he would kiss her--publicly. He had no doubt this would get her attention. His only concern was the other students. Would such a rash action cause his students to lose the fear they had of him? He hoped not and would figure a way to insure it remained once in class...or perhaps just later that evening.

Hermione and Draco walked into the ball together. Severus watched, wondering whether or not he should go through with his plan. The melancholy was evident on her face--it hadn't changed since she returned to Hogwarts. Severus could see the Headmaster through the corner of his eye. Professor Dumbledore watched the Head boy and girl walk in together and upon eyeing Hermione he sighed. Looking down for a moment, Dumbledore looked back up at Hermione. No smile graced the Headmaster's face. This was enough to worry Severus regarding Hermione. After all, Dumbledore was a never ending supply of hope and now it looked as if he had none left. Severus felt an odd pain in his chest. Instinctively his had reached up rubbing the area around his heart. Dumbledore looked to him.

"Yes, Severus. It IS heartbreaking to see Miss Granger remain in such a state."

Severus rolled his eyes not daring to say anything after the last time he did. As he watched the events unfold before him, he found himself deciding to maintain the distance between himself and Hermione. He still could not stop watching her and secretly hoping for some sign of normalcy returning, but he knew normalcy would never be what was prior to her stay with Voldemort. A white hot rage traveled through his body at the Dark Lord just thinking about what he did to Hermione.

Hermione and Draco stepped into the Great Hall and everyone watched as Harry stepped forward. Harry just stood there in front of Draco, but looking at Hermione. He didn't say anything, only smiled very slightly. Hermione's eyes scanned the head table noticing Snape watching her and the odd position of his hand on his heart. His position meant nothing, she knew that much, but the wave of emotions over took her.

'Something I'll never have.'

She looked at the Boy-Who-Lived standing there smiling at her wanting his best friend back. Before she could do anything or say anything she stepped forward. Her arms flew around Harry and he could hear her weak whispering voice.

"I'm so sorry, Harry."

She was crying now. He rubbed her back along with Draco and then pulled away to look at her. She wiped the tears away.

"Hermione, you have no reason to feel sorry. Ginny explained it all and Ron and I are both really sorry we never even asked what you NEEDED from us. Ron is at the table and wants to apologize also."

She followed Harry to the table with a small smile playing on her face. The trio was back together--they would never be whole again though, not 11-year old whole, but as whole as any friendship could be with the darkness lingering upon them.

Severus watched her throughout the evening. She was smiling more and showing signs of the old Hermione. He watched her dance with her friends and found himself wanting to be the one holding her. He felt that anger rising again. A song started that sounded familiar to Snape. Draco took Hermione's hand to lead her back to the dance floor. Looking at her, Draco shook his finger no at her and Snape remembered where he heard it--it was the same song she ran out of the Great Hall on previously. Draco pulled her to him and turned around so he could see the head table. Draco's eyes met Severus' with cold steel.

Here I am, I'm in the wrong bed again

It's a game I just can't win

There you are breathin' soft on my skin, yeah

Still you won't let me in...

As Draco wrapped his arms around her and slowly began to move she found herself facing the head table again. Severus sat there watching as if he was mentally fighting something. He noticed her looking at him and the moment he did she looked away. Draco's hands rubbed up and down her back, comforting her and angering Severus.

Why save your kisses for a rainy day

Baby let the moment take your heart away

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah

Have you ever wanted someone

You just couldn't have

Did you ever try so hard

That your world just fell apart

Have you ever needed someone so bad

And to the girl I gotta have

I gotta have you baby...

Hermione couldn't help it. The tears flowed from her cheeks despite her strong will and desire to stop them. She couldn't help the fact that her heart was breaking and continued to break each time she saw Snape watching her with no movement in her direction.

There you go, midnight promises again, yeah

But they're broken by the dawn

You wanna go further, faster every day, baby

But in the morning you'll be gone

And I'm alone...

Severus could not take his eyes off Hermione. As Draco turned her in their dancing he saw the tears glistening on her cheeks. His heart and mind seemed to be doing battle and it seemed the only fatality was Hermione--and that was unacceptable.

Draco pulled away from Hermione, cupping her face in his hands and wiping the tears off her face. He hated seeing her like this over his Head of House. He knew it was not just that, but the song seemed to remind her of Snape and what all had happened and probably never would happen. He looked in her eyes and could see the heart break and agony she felt.

Why save your kisses for a rainy day

Baby let the moment take your heart away

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah

Have you ever wanted someone

You just couldn't have

Did you ever try so hard

That your world just fell apart

Have you ever needed someone so bad...

Draco could not help but feel robbed. Looking into Hermione's eyes he knew how deeply he felt for her, but he could also see the burning love and desire she had for someone else--as if her very soul belonged to Snape.

Snape watched Draco looking into Hermione's eyes and felt panic rush his veins. What was happening? Was he loosing her before he even got a chance to tell her? Before he could think twice he stood up...

Every dream I dream is like

Some kinds rash n reckless scene

...Dumbledore watched the potions master sudden rise and departure from the table. Severus' only thought was to get to Hermione and let her know once and for all. How, he had not decided yet. The image of Draco touching her face and looking in her eyes remained dancing in his mind...

To give out such crazy love

...Hermione...his only thought. He pushed his way to the dance floor. Draco gently wiping tears from her face and Draco's melting sigh as he did so steeled itself in Severus' mind...

You must be some kind of drug

...The tears still falling from her face flashed in his mind...her melancholy face looking up to Draco as if lost...

And if my time don't ever come

...He shoved his way through a crowd to the edge of the dance floor...She was so pale looking up to Draco with her dark curls falling around her face...he could hear Draco's words in his mind as he watched the pale boy's mouth move... "Hermione, give me a chance..." Tears fell from her cheek...

For me you're still the one

...Snape watched Draco's face fall as he looked into her eyes...her heart and soul would never belong to Draco and he saw that...Snape felt a rush of emotion he had been suppressing...anger at Voldemort for putting Hermione through such an ordeal...anger at himself for allowing her to make the deal she did...anger at himself for not telling her how he felt...Draco moving closer to Hermione in a last attempt to win her over...

Damned if I don't

...Draco moving closer...leaning his lips closer...Snape moved forward...

Damned if I do

...Draco's forhead leaning on Hermione's...wanting what he knows he will never possess...Snape moving as people jumped out of his way...his hand reached out grabbing the Head Girl's upper arm...he could not hold his emotions any longer...

I gotta get a fix on you

...he pulled Hermione around to him and caught her as she swung around to him...both his hands instinctively went up to her face cradling it as his lips crashed down on hers...the Great Hall was silent with the exception of the music.

Hermione felt a hand grab and spin her around. When her body was forced to go with it she saw Severus...his hands reached up to her face...her tormented world crashed around her as every fiber of her being vibrated with his kiss.

He pulled away and looked at her, not taking his hands off her face. He was breathing rather fast and closed his eyes for a moment to calm himself. When he opened his eyes back up he saw Hermione looking him. The open understanding look in her eyes told him it wasn't really necessary for him to say anything--actions speak louder than words. Slowly they started to dance to the remaining music as the Headmaster smiling broadly stood up to clap for them. The students followed suit. As they moved on the floor in their own world Severus looked at her and smiled...yes, smiled.

"Miss Granger, do not think for a moment this means I will no longer take points from Gryffindor."

She chuckled.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Severus. After all, I am an insufferable know it all and how could I expect you not to remind me of that on occasion with a regular points deduction?"

He smiled at her humor and leaned down for another kiss.